WITH one round remaining the three to go up to the first division next season have already been decided. Dungannon and Terenure will join Old Crescent in the top flight after both had convincing wins on Saturday. There was never much doubt that Terenure would do the needful at home against Dolphin, but for Dungannon the trip to Dr Hickey Park was potentially disastrous. As it turned out, they turned around their inconsistent form and finished in style.

Ashley Blair was their chief points scorer but it was the powerful scrummaging of the Dungannon pack which paved the way back into the first division. Having turned over 15-3 in front at half time, Dungannon then opted for scrums instead of penalties early if the second half which enabled Blair to crash over for his second try. There was no way back for Greystones after that, and there will be no realistic way back for them next week either when they face Terenure, needing to win by 69 points.

Having chased promotion hard for the last few seasons, it won't bother Terenure that it was a shift in the goalposts which ultimately earned them the ticket. At the half way point they looked out of it, in fourth place and having dropped five points. But the addition of an extra promotion place put them back in the hunt and they have responded since with some attractive and effective rugby. Although they were level on the try count 3-3 with Dolphin on Saturday, 19 points from the boot of Peter Walsh ensured they won with plenty to spare.

Malone almost matched the scoreline at Castle Avenue where they pulled away from Clontarf having themselves been hauled back to 18-18 at one stage. At Lansdowne Road Shane Buckley Kicked 17 points for Bective as they put 27 points on Wanderers while Old Crescent finished in style against North, and enabled Sean Madigan to top the try charts with seven, courtesy of three touchdowns at Ormeau.